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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

This may be a little dated, but I still find Poliform's “My Life in 80m²” residential interior project completely captivating. The Italian furniture manufacturer perfectly captures how the quality of a living space does not have to depend on size.

80m² = 861.11 ft² for those of us who cannot picture size with the metric system (aka me).

Great contemporary design really speaks for itself, and quality of life within small spaces is especially important for us urbanites who are destined to live in cubby holes. Finding ways to integrate personal space with living and entertainment areas is such a challenge when you don't have the square footage to work with, and this is a great showcase of how such spaces can be separate, yet flow harmoniously as if they were 'one'. I don't know if that makes sense to you, but that's how I worked it out in my head.

As much as I love this project and however inspirational it is, I'm unable to grasp how this would translate into a balance of affordability with great furnishing (the website uses "high design" and "low budget" as keywords to describe this project). Trying to replicate this with IKEA furniture is possible, but I doubt the final product would look as polished. Aesthetically pleasing and trendy items usually mean spending big buckeroos – you can't DIY craft lamps and staircases like these.

Until I can experiment and emulate the designs featured with minimal cost for myself, I will never know. But for now I'm just going to visually enjoy Poliform's interior eye candy piece, and file in it my head as a design blueprint for my future house/apartment/farm/spaceship.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

May is Zombie Awareness Month, and this post is in support of theZombie Research Society's effort to educate the public on the dangers zombies and the possibility of the zombie apocalypse. I know it's almost the end of May, but better late then never.

As an individual who is always zombie apocalypse ready, I feel like it is my duty to ensure everyone else is too. The more people who are zombie prepared, the less likely the chance of a widespread infection, and the more focused we are on blowing zombie heads off.

When it comes to your zombie survival preparation kit, always think long term. In my school of zombie thought and logic, it is understood that the zombie virus needs to be fed, and starving it is the best way of wide spread zombie elimination. Therefore you need to be in hiding for a long ass time.

In terms of how zombies will get to places like Singapore, whilst I do not think zombies will be able to travel by air, the chances of them unintentionally hijacking a plane and causing it to crash when the pilot gets infected are high, and may be mistaken by already brain dead politicians for acts of terrorism (causing a state of blissful unawareness). And according to Pirates of the Caribbean, the possibility of the undead walking underwater is ever present, so beware.

Bill Murray's pretending-to-be a zombie act in Zombieland is a risky survival tactic that is untested in real life, but disguise and integration may key to keeping alive.

Besides identifying possibly safehouse (mine is a massive wholesale supermarket), here are a few other guidelines you should follow:

Just to get your zombie knowledge up to speed, zombification does occur in nature. Take the zombie ants for instance, where parasitic fungus turns carpenter ants in Thailand into "zombies" by hijacking the ants' nervous systems, causing the insects to perform abnormal but specific behaviors that help the fungus reproduce.

In terms of human zombies, those already exist. They are ever present in the financial district of any major city. They are referred to as "corporate zombies" by scientists. The deadly corporate zombie virus seems to be airborne and takes effect slowly. It is also noted to have a lifelong effect on its host. Stay as far away as possible from corporate zombies; They have zero grasp of reality, and may suck you into a vortex of shallow-and-boring.

The Oatmeal has a useful zombie bite calculator which gives you a guesstimate of the time you have before infection from a zombie bite takes effect. It helps you gauge how long you'd have to say goodbye to your love ones before you EAT THEIR BRAINS.

I have a firm belief that the zombie apocalypse will happen, it's just a matter of when. Wear a gray pin to show that you're aware and that you care.

Click read more for more tips on what you shouldn't do during the zombie apocalypse.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Thursday, May 17, 2012

As a sporadic collector of vinyl and a fan of DIY projects, I got quite excited by this merger of papercraft and music (like if I were a boy, it would be a tent in pants moment). I have a record player at home, a crappy vintage looking one I got from Targét that probably doesn't even compare to the Jónófón.

Named after its creator Jón Hólmgeirsson, the Jónófón is a fold-it-yourself gramophone that is assembled from a series of flat cutouts which includes thin plywood for the base and thick paper for the horn, with a needle and a power source.

I'm in love with Jón's interpretation of the gramophone, and I get all tingly imagining how the rawness of the materials would add to the 'texture' of the music when you put a vinyl record on.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

This is kind of old and I've had this sitting in draft mode for like forever, but you guys will probably like it, so I'm sharing this video. Also Conan O'brien or Coco is my 3rd favourite red head behind my friends Luke and Kristy, so I had to post this.

Basically this is a bit where Conan delivers Chinese food and runs through NYC on his dandy long legs.

Singapore Side Note: On the menu at the Chinese place I saw something called the Singapore Mei Fun? WTF IS THAT! Mee Fen? There's nothing less Singapore than random Mei Fun. You know what's Singaporean? A good Hokkien Mee or Chicken Rice.

Did any of you get your Cinco De Mayo on this past weekend? I celebrated it with burritos and frozen sangrias, which is how I wish I spent every single day.

Anyway, not the point. The point is we love piñatas but before you crack one open, you might want to take a look at what's inside. You know, to better plan which part of it you want to smash barbarically first.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Oui oui, croissant, baguette. This goes out to you film noir snobs. Here is a great spoof of pretentious 'arty' French cinema for your enjoyment. I know you will derive great meaning from Henri the cat's existential existence.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

I put down the deposit for my first solo-trip today. I've never travelled on my own before (flying alone doesn't count). But it's time I got my shit together, and actually do something I've wanted to since I graduated.

I couldn't wait around forever with friends making plans and breaking them a few months later. I'm not built for drama or that high of a level of empathy. I am a giant narcissist and I think I do take things quite personally, however I realized that it's no one's fault that I'm constantly disappointed but my own.

This is kind of heavy. I hate socializing and I will be alone with a massive group of strangers. It will definitely be a challenge. But at least when Europe is done and flushed out my system, reality can kick in and real life will finally begin.

What reallllyyy trying to get at is that there will be rad JKT posts from Europe.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Today, after a lengthy battle with cancer, Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys passed away. Adam, better known as MCA was only 47.

When they first formed, they started out as a punk band but soon started experimenting with hip-hop. I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say I'm glad they did. Truly amazing music and even crazier music videos — mostly directed by the man himself, MCA.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Here at JKT, we're all Star Wars fans (Actually, I'll be honest, I have no idea if the others are — but I'm just making the assumption because that would be a major strike against our friendship.) so it's only right to wish ...

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Ever been walking around your neighborhood, the city or even a whole other country you're visiting and think to yourself, "This would be such a good backdrop to a video game"? Well, you are not alone, my friend!

Jamie Sneddon and Kevin Rozario-Johnson have taken your thoughts and turned them into (kinda) reality by adding classic video game icons to a photos of normal cityscapes.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Here at Jiakkantang, all four of us love our food. Together with our other friends, brunches and drinking night-outs are how we bond best!

I've enjoyed learning more about the vibrant and ever-changing culinary landscape in Singapore and Asia while working on F&B-related accounts at my current company. This includes The Miele Guide which I wanted to share more about!

The Miele Guide was created in 2008 in order to better recognise and
celebrate Asia’s best chefs and restaurants. It remains the most independent and representative restaurant guide for Asia.

Voting for this year's edition is now on! - If you've had truly memorable dining experiences at any restaurant in
Asia over the past year, now is the time to say THANK YOU by voting for them at: http://www.mieleguide.com/voting

So here's a shoutout to our fellow JKT foodie lovers to show your appreciation and recognition to your top restaurant picks!

All voters will also receive a special
discount of 25% off every pre-order of The Miele Guide 2012/2013
edition.

Here's one thing you should know about me: I love stupid reality TV shows full of bitches. Especially if they're from the UK. It would be a dream come true if Ru Paul's Drag Race moved to Essex. NO SHAME.

So anyway, I finally had the time / remembered to pick up on Geordie Shore again by watching Season 2, and it's reminded me how much I love Charlotte. Like one of my friends pointed out, she's a dream BFF.

Here are some choice Charlotte quotes to prove how wonderful a person she is:

Honestly, I cannot imagine a dull moment ever in life if I had my very own Charlotte. Where can I get one?

Season 3 of Geordie Shore is slated to return to our lives in June. You're welcome!